Wire-drawing apparatus



VMarch 26, `1929. L. sTAsTNl-:Y 1,706,754

WIRE DRAWING' 'APPARATUS l original Filed June e. 1922 4 sheets-sheet' 1 ANlartlh 26, 1929. STASTNEY WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Original Filed June 6. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7720917 or' L adfsaz/ 5ta/Mey y l Mamh 26, 1929. L. STASTNEY A .1,706,754

WIRE DRAWING APPARA-TUS Original Filed June 6, 1922 y 4 sheetsheet 3 March 26, 1929,. 1 sTAsTNEY WIRE DRAWING APPARATUS Original Filed June 6. 1922 4 Sheeisheet Patented Mar. 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,106,154 PATENT OFFICE.

LADISLAV STASTNEY, OF CICERO. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM'- PANY, INCORPORATED, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WIRE-DRAWING APPA'R.ATUS.`

Application led June 6, 1922, Serial No. 566,213. Renewed August 9, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in wire drawing apparatus.

The object of the invention is to produce a wire drawing mechanism including a plurality of wire drawing units having a unitary driving mechanism, and means for operatively connecting and disconnecting each of said driving units therefrom, the said units and drivin mechanism being so arranged that each o the units is readily accessible and at the same time the complete machine is compact and occupies a minimum amount of floor space. To` this end the machine includes two series of wire drawing units mounted on a framework and arranged back to back, a common shaft beingmounted in the framework between the two series of wire drawing units. Each of the wire drawing units includes a horizontal shaft driven from said common drive shaft, a cone capstan mounted thereon, a second horizontal shaft mounted above said capstan shaft and supporting a series of sheaves, a series of dies supported between the sheaves and capstan, together with a clutch mechanism associ-ated with each capstan for operatively connecting and disconnecting said capstan to and from its associated drive shaft. l

One of the features of the invention resides in an improved distributinc` mechanism for storing the wire on lthe tallKe-up spool, the mechanism being so designed that it will accurately lay very fine wire, such as B. & S. wire gauge, on a take-up spool in layers of closelyadjacent coils without tangling the wire or intermingling the coils of one layer with that of the adjacent layers, the mechanism also lbeing adjustable so "as to both accommodate different lengths of take-up spool and to compensate for variations in the sizes of take-up spools due to inaccuracies in manufacture. Although this distributing mechanism'is particularly well adapted for use in wire drawing machines, it is to be understood that it may be employed in various other machines for handling various diiferent kinds of strands without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the wire drawing machine with a mechanism for varying the speed of the take-up spool to compensate for the varying diameters thereof as wire is'stored on the spool, and a connection between the driving mechanism for the take-up spool and the driving mechanism for the improved form of distributing mechanism whereby the speed of the latter is synchronized with the varying speeds of the take-up spool.

Other objects and advanta es of the invention will be set forth in the fo lowing description and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation and partly in section illustrating the clutch mechanism `mounted within the capstan;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged skeleton view partly broken away showing the mechanism for controlling the speed of the take-up spool;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section of the distributing mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view partly in section of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is anl enlargedy skeleton view, partly in section, showing the lever system of the distributing mechanism and illustrating the manner inwhich the said leverage mechanism may be adjusted to compensate for take-up A spools of different lengths;

Fig. 8 is a detail `view in horizontal section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing in detail a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in which like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views, 10 represents a framework which supportsa plurality of compartments 5 of substantially rectangular shape each having top, bottom. back, and side walls. These compartments are arranged side by side to form two rowswhich are spaced apart by a compartment 15 extending between the rows. Each of the compartments 5 contains wire drawing apparatus which comprises a horizontal shaft v18, upon which is mounted a luralit of integral capstans 17-17 of di erent iameters. Supported above the shaft 18 arepalpluralitym of sheaves 19 independently mounted upon a horizontally disposed shaft 20 'suitably mounted within the compartment 5. Mount ed between thesheaves 19 and capstans 17-17-f,-iiy

is a die block 21, also suitably supported within the compartment 5.

The capstans and other drawing elements contained within one row of compartments 5 face ytoward one sideof the framework, while the capstans and drawing elements contained within the other row of compartments 5 face toward the-opposite side of the framework. The front of each of the comp'artr ments 5 may be closed by sliding doors 100 and 101 of the type fully shown and described in a co-pending application of W. F. Hosford, Serial No. 566,206, `filed June 6, 1922. When these doors are opened, complete access may be had to the drawing mechanism mounted within the compartment.

From the above it will be understood that the drawing apparatus mounted within one row of compartments 5 are accessible from one side of the machine, while the' drawing apparatus mountedwithin the other row of compartments are accessible, from the opposite side of the machine. In the machine illustrated in the drawings four compartments each containing individual wire drawing apparatus are mounted in each row, but it is to be understood that the` number of these compartments in each row maybe either increased or decreased without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The capstan shafts 18 of one row of capstans are mount/ed in alinement with the capstan shafts 18 of the other row of capstans diametrically opposite, as shown in Fig. 2.

Each of the capstan shafts 18 has secured thereto a bevel gear 32 which meshes with a bevel gear 33 at diametrically opposite points thereof. The gears 33 are mounted upon a shaft 34 rtatable within suitable bearings supported within ,the compartment 15. Secured to saidshaft 34 is a sprocket 35 driven through a chain 36 by a sprocket 37 mounted upon an armature shaft. 38 of an electric motor 39 supported by the framework 10 beneath the compartments 5. When it is desired to operate any of the wire drawing units the motor 39 is started and brought up to the desired speed through a suitable rheostat (not shown) controlled by an operating lever 201. Clutch mechanism, hereinafter to be described, is mounted within each of the capstans 17--17 and individual means is provided for actuating each of these clutch mechanisms to connect or disconnect a capstan to or from its associated driving Shaft 18.

Associated witheach of the wire drawing apparatus mounted within the compartments 5 is` a supply spool 50 (Fig. 1) containing wire to be reduced in diameter which is fed to the drawing mechanism by means hereinafter to be described, the drawn wire being stored on a take-up spool 61 driven by suitable mechanism, also to be described hereinafter. The wire drawing apparatus mount.- ed within each of the compartments 5 and the mechanism associated therewith for feeding and storing the wire constitute a unit and since all of the units are identical a detailed description of one willsuliice for all.

The supply of Wire to be reduced in diameter is carried by a supply spool 50. The wire is guidedV from the supply spool over and under pulleys 51 and 52 respectively (Fig. 1) and then over the rear sheave 19 and through the first reducing die 53 carried by the die block 21. The wire is then wound once around the capstan 17 of small.- est diameter after which it is passed upward and over the next sheave 19 and through the next reducing di'e 53 carried by the die block 21. The wire is then wound around the next capstan and then again over the next sheave 19 and through the next reducing die, etc., etc., until it is finally drawn down to the desired diameter by the last reducing die. From the final reducing die the drawn wire passes around the capstan 17 of largest diameter and is guided by a pulley 57 mounted on a stationary arm 58 adjustably positioned on the shaft 20. -From the pulley 57 the wire. passes through an opening in the closed doors 100 and 101 to a pulley 59 carried by an arm 60 and thence is led to a take-up spool 61 drivenby mechanism hereinafter to be described.

The clutch mechanism for connecting the capstans 17-17 to and disconnecting them from the shaft 18 is illustrated in Fig. v2 of the' drawings, the clutch being shown in its operated position. The shaft 18 is in the form of a sleeve which projects through a horizontally and centrally disposed opening made through' the capstans 17-17 and carries adjacent its outer end (Fig. 3) an annular member 70 fast thereto which has secured to it b means of a pin 71 a plurality of clutch dis s 72. Alternately mounted between the clutch disks 72 are clutch` disks 73 which are secured by a pin 74 to the inner peripheral wall of a cup-shaped opening 75 made in the capstans 17-17. The disks 72 and 73 are movable longitudinally on the pins 71 and 74 respectively, and when pressure is exerted to force the disks together they form a driving connection between the capstans 17-17 and the sleeve 18, as is readily understood. Means for forcing the disks 72 and 73 together comprises a plate 76 which engages the outermost disk, and when t-he said plate is moved toward the right into the position shown, serves to force the disks together suiiciently to cause them to rotate as a unit. The plate 76 is fastened to one end of a shaft 77 mounted within the sleeve 18. .A transverse pin 79 is secured to the shaft 77 and projects through diametrically opposite Jongitudinal slots 80 made in the sleeve 18 and is suitably connected with a housing 78 so as to be movable therewith and free to rotate independently of the said housing. Through the medium of t-he pin 79 and slots 80 the shaft 77 and housing 78 are movable together the sides of the housing 78 at diametricallyl opposite points are pins 81 which receive the bifurcated ends of a forked member 82 which is pivoted at 83 to a link 84. The link has secured to its free end a pin 85 which fits within a slot formed in the end of a vertically reciprocable rod 86. For a more detailed illustration and description of the clutch mechanism per se reference is made to the co-pending application of W. F. Hosford, Serial No. 566,206, filed June 6, 1922.-

lVhen it is desired to release the clutch mechanism and stop the operation of the capstans 17-17 a knob 125 is operated which7 through suitable mechanism, lifts the rod 86 to disengage the clutch disks 72 and 73. When lit is desired to start the capstans a foot pedal 97 is depressed which, through suitable mechanism, moves the rod 86 downwardly to force the clutch disks 72 and 73 together so that they constitute a driving connection between the capstans 17-17 and the shaft 18 (Fig. 1). For a detailed disclosure of the mechanism controlled by the knob 125 and foot pedal 97 for raisin and lowering the rod 86 to engage and disengage the clutch mechanism, reference is made to Patent 1,608,248, issued November 23, 1926 to J. N. Selvig.V A detailed disclosure and description of this mechanism is omitted from this application for the sake of simplicity, since a full disclosure and description thereof is not essential to a complete understanding of the present invention.

In wire drawing machines the former practice has been to connect the capstan by intermediate shafting to a clutch mechanism` mounted apart therefrom. By mounting the clutch mechanism within the capstan this intermediate shafting is dispensed with, resulting in a conservation of power and permitting higher speed operation. Furthermore, the capstan provides a housing for the clutchmechanism and since both'the capstan and clutch mechanism only occupy the space necessary yfor the capstan alone, -the over-all width of the machine is materially reduced and a saving of considerable ioor space effected.

The mechanism for driving the take-up spool 61 at varying speeds to compensate for the varying diameters thereof as wire is stored on tliespool, which mechanism ,includes a Vfriction clutch the driving action of which is controlled by the tension of the drawn wire, will-now be described.

lMeshing'with a gear9() rotatable with the capstans 17-17 is a gear 38 (Figs. 3 and 4) which drives a pinion 39 secured on a horizontal shaft 40 positioned a .short distance below the shaft 18. The shaft 40 extends i-nto a housing 41 (Fig. 1) and carries at its forward end a worm gear 42 (Fig. 4) which meshes with a Worm 43 formed on a sleeve 45 rotatable in suitable bearings (not shown) carried by the housing 41. One end of the sleeve has secured thereto a disk clutch member 48. Extending through the sleeve 45 and rotatable independently thereof is a spindle 152 having splined thereon a clutch disk member 54.- The take-up spool 61 is suitably secured to the, spindle 152 so as to rotate therewith. The clutch disks 48 and 54 are normally held out of engagement with each other by means of a spring 59', which is al compression spring, one end of the spring pressing against the shaft ysecured to the clutch disc 48 and the other end of the spring' pressing against the end of the sleeve secured to the clutch )disc 54. When the disks are in engagement they form a driving connection between the sleeve and shaft 152 so that the take-up spool 61 is driven by the shaft 40. The driving engagement of the disks 48 and 54 is controlled by suitable lever.- age mechanism indicated generally by refelence numeral 200. This mechanism includes the arm 60 having pivotally mounted thereon the pulley 59 over which the drawn wire passes to the take-up spool 61. For a detailed disclosure and description of the.

mode of operation of the leverage mechanism 200 to vary the speed of the take-up spool 61 responsive to the tensionv on the drawn wire between the take-up spool and llast reducing die, reference is made to Patent 1,598,937, issued September 7, 1926 to J. N. Selvig, since this mechanism is identical with that dischine the capstans- 17-17 deliver the wire to the take-up spool 61 at a constant speed, and the speed at which the wire may be dra-wn through the dies is dependent upon the speed that the wire may be taken up. To take up the wire successfully at a high speed the tension on the wire must be maintained substantially constant. .In starting ,and stoppinfr the machine and during the spooling of tthe wire the tension on the wire will vary momentarily. During the spooling of the wirethe diameter of the take-up spool increases as each layer is wound thereon, and in a case where the dies are delivering drawn Wire at the rate of approximately 2500 feet per minute, the take-up spool-must be driven at speeds varying from 5000 to 10,000 R. P. M. in order to compensate for the. varying diameters of the take-'up spool and maintain a constant tension on the wire to insure uniform spooling thereof on thel take-up spool. When the tension upon the wire is increased above the proper tension during spooling, the free end of the lever 60 will be moved down. This lever in its movement causes a link 301 to be moved upwardly, placing under compression a spring 302 mounted about the link 301. The spring 302 upon being compressed lifts a housing 303. This housing has integral therewith a pair of annular collars which form between them an annular groove 304 within which is mounted an eye formed upon the end of a lever 305. This lever is fixed to a shaft 306 upon which its also secured an arm 307 which is attached to the upper end of a link 3 08, the lower end of which is pivoted to an arm 309 pivoted in turn to a lever 310. As the housing 303 moves upwardly through the lever 305, arm 307, link 308, and arm 309, the lever 310 is moved clockwise relieving the compression on a spring 311 which normally tends to urge the fric* tion disks 54 and 48 into close engagement with each other, and thus relieving the pressure between said disks, thereby reducing the driving effect of the driving disk 48, result ing in a reduction in speed of the take-up spool shaft 152.

When the tension on the wire is decreased below the proper tension, the lever 60 moves upward, due to a slack in the Wire, which results in a reverse operation of the mechanism just described which causes a closer engagement of the clutch disks 54 and 48 to drive the take-up spool. From this it will be understood that as the tension on the wire between the capstan 17 and the take-up spool varies, the pressure between the clutch members 48 and 54 will vary in response thereto causing a change in the speed of the take-up spool accordingly. Due to the change in pressure of the members 48 and 54 in response to the tension in the wire, a substantially constant tension is maintained on the wire.

The distributing mechanism for laying the wire on the take-up spool comprises two parallel fingers 205 between which the drawn wire passes to the take-up spool 61 (Figs. 6 and 7). These fingers are secured to a head 206 which is held within a cup-shaped housing 207 by means of a' sleeve 208. rl`he hous-` ing 207 is pivoted to an arm 209 so as to be adjustable in a vertical plane. Tlhe arm 209 is integral with a block 210 internally screw threaded to receive-a screw 211 carried by a bracket 212 pinned to a reciprocable rod 213. As this rod is reciprocated, by a mechanism hereinafter to be described, through the bracket 212, they fingers 205 are moved back and forth across the take-up spool 61.5"

rlhe means for reciprocating the rod 213 comprises a pinion 214 fast onthe take-up spool spindle 152 which meshes with a gear 215 fastv upon a shaft 216 mounted within suitable bearings within the casing 41. Also fast on the shaft 216 is a Worm 217 which meshes with a wormgear 218 secured to a shaft 219. A gear 220 is also secured to the shaft 219 which drives an idler 221 rotatable on a stud shaft 222 carried by a bracket 223. The idler 221 meshes with a gear 224 fast upon a shaft 225 Which also has secured to it a cam 226. Cooperating with the said cam are anti-friction rollers 227 and 228 carried by a rod 229 reciprocably mounted within suitable bearings carried by the housing 41. Pivoted to the rod 229 at a point 230 is a lever 231 the upper end of which has a bifurcated portion 232 which straddles a pin 233 fast to the reciprocable rod 213. The lower end of the lever 231 fits within an eye 234 (Fig. 8) which has secured to it a pin 235 pivotally mounted within a bracket 236 threaded upon a screw 237. As the take-up spool spindle 152 is driven at varying speeds through the friction driving mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the cam 226 is rotated in synchronism therewith through the train of gears comprising pinion 214, gear 215,'worm 217, worm gear 218, gears 220, 221, and 224. As the cam 226 revolves, it engages rollers 227 and 228, alternately causing the rod 229 to be reciprocated. This movement of the rod 229 causes a similar movement of the rod 213 through the arm 231. The reciprocation of the rod 213, as previously described, moves the fingers 205 back and forth across the take-up spool.

The length of the reciprocations of the rod 213 to accommodate different lengths of take-up spools is controlled by turning-screw 237 clockwise or counter-clockwise by means of a serrated knob 238, which serves to raise or lower the bracket 236,` as viewed in Fig. 5, to which the pivotal point of the link 231 is secured, and thereby lengthen or shorten the are through which the upper end of the said lever moves, which, of course, controls the .length of reciprocation of the rod 213. When this adjustment has been made for spools of a given length and it is found, due to inaccuracies of manufacture, that a spool will not occupy the correct position on spindle 152, these inaccuracies may be compensated for by adjusting the position of the lingers 205 relative to the bracket 212 by turning the screw 211 clockwise or counter-clockwise by means of a serrated knob 239 attachedY this reason the bracket 223, upon which the' idler gear 221 is rotatably supported, is adf justable so that the gear 221 may be lowered or'raised as a gear having a smaller or llar er diameter than the gear 224 is used. l he bracket 223 is locked in its adjusted osition by means of fixed screws 240 which t within slots 241 cut in the bracket 223.

Since the distributing mechanism is driven from the take-up spool spindle, as this spindle is Varied in speed by thefriction driving mechanism shown in Fig. 4, the speed of the entire distributing mechanism is correspondingly varied so that it is alwaysin complete synchronism with the rotations of the take-up spool.

What is claimed is:

1. .Ina wire drawing apparatus,a multiple series of wire drawing units back to back, comprising a base, a top section providing a plurality of wire drawing compartments mounted n said base, each of said compartments enclosing wire drawing mechanism including two shafts, onev mounted above the other, a series 4of sheaves revolvably mounted on one of said shafts, a cone capstan mounted on the other shaft, and a series of dies, a com; mon drive shaft, a shaft for each of said capstans operativelyconnected with said com- `mon drive shaft, and a clutch mechanism associated with each of said capstans for connecting and disconnecting it to and from engagement with its associated drive shaft.

2. In a wire drawing apparatus, a multiple series of wire drawing units back to back, comprising a base, a top section providing a plurality of wire drawing compartments supported by said base, means vfor permitting'unobstructed accessto each of said compartments, each of said lcompartments enclosing wire drawing mechanism includin two shafts positioned in the same vertical p ane, a series of'sheaves revolvably mounted on one of said shafts, a cone capstan mounted on thev other shaft, a series of dies, a common drive shaft disposed at right angles to the capstan shafts, a shaft for each of said capstans operatively connected with said common drive shaft, and a clutch mechanism associated with each of said capstans for connecting and disconnecting it to and vfrom engagement with its associated drive shaft. A

3. In a Wire drawing machine, a multiple series of'wire drawing units back to-back, comprising a base, a top section providing a plurality of wire drawing com artments mounted on said base, each of sai compartcomprising a base, a top section providing a plurality of wire drawing compartments mounted on said base, each-of said compartments enclosing separate' and distinct wire drawing mechanism including two shafts, one mounted above the other, a series ofsheaves mounted on one of the shafts, a capstan mounted on the other shaft, and a series of dies supported between the sheaves and capstan, a common 'drive shaft located between -and in the rear of said com artments, a shaft for each capstan operative y connected with said drive shaft, and a clutch mounted within each of said ca stans for operatively connectin them to an from their associated drive sha t.

5. In a wire drawing'apparatus, a multiple series of wire drawing units back to back, comprising a base, atop section providing a plurality of wire drawing compartments supported by said basea air of slidable doors mounted to close the ront of the compartment, each of said compartments enclosing wire drawing lmechanism including two shafts positioned in the same vertical plane, a series of sheaves revolvably mounted on one of said shafts, a cone. capstan mounted on the other shaft, a series of dies, a common drive shaft disposed at right angles to the capstan shafts, a shaft for each of said capstans operatively connected with said common drive shaft, and a clutch mechanism associated with each of said capstans for connecting and disconnecting'it to and from engagement with its associated drive shaft.

' In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of May A. D., 1922.

LADISLAV STASTNEY.

mseries of wiredrawin'g units4` back f-to uback, 

